What's more exciting than buying a new home? Building one! There's no project quite as thrilling or as natural as creating your own home from scratch. But at the same time, this is a project (...)
Custom Home Builders: What You Need To Know
What's more exciting than buying a new home? Building one!
There's no project quite as thrilling or as natural as creating your own home from scratch.
But at the same time, this is a project which can entirely consume you, especially if you're not knowledgeable about the building process.
Building a home can quickly eat away all your time and money, and after all that, you still might not have exactly what you want.
To avoid costly delays and mistakes, you might consider hiring a trustworthy custom home builder.
Of course, the services of a custom home builder don't come cheap. You might be hesitant about handing such a hefty dollar amount, along with your trust, over to someone else.
To make this decision a bit easier, we'll answer your most pressing questions about hiring and working with a custom home builder.
Is It Worth It To Hire a Custom Home Builder?
A good custom home builder is definitely worth it. Here's why.
They have relationships with subcontractors
A good custom home builder has developed relationships with reliable subcontractors. These relationships help the project run much more smoothly. You don't have to worry about contractors showing up late, or perhaps not at all.
Even more importantly, you don't have to waste your time researching and interviewing different subcontractors for every part of the job. A custom home builder will already know how to get in touch with the best contractors for the job, and these contractors, in turn, will be happy to work with a builder that they already know.
Your custom home builder will know when the best subcontractors are available, so you can feel confident that your home will be complete within a reasonable timeframe.
They can get discounts on materials
A local custom home builder already has relationships with vendors that offer locally sourced materials needed for the project, due to the fact that they usually make such purchases in bulk.
Because of these relationships, a custom home builder can get good discounts on these purchases, which he can pass on to customers. If an individual purchased the same materials, it would cost a lot more. This applies not just to building materials, but also to appliances and fixtures.
Their process saves you time
When it comes to completing a home-building project, time is of the essence. Too many delays can drive up your cost, especially if you're using a construction loan that stipulates the build must be completed by a certain date. Taking the time to do things right can save you time (and money) in the end.
Working with a reputable custom home builder eliminates many of the delays that are usually associated with a build. They have done this work for years and have streamlined all the processes so that everything goes smoothly. They have the expertise to check the work of various subcontractors, ensuring that there are no mistakes to slow you down later. Most of all, they'll put love into it.
They give you the flexibility to plan for the future
Your home is your refuge... but it's also one of the biggest investments you'll ever make. As with any such investment, you'll want it to meet your needs for generations to come. A custom-built home is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to create a home you'll love not just today but in the future. You have the flexibility to incorporate special features like an open-floor design or plenty of storage space.
If you have an aging family member, you can plan for the future by creating a multi-generational home, with the capability of adding on mobility features down the line if they are needed.
By now, you're probably convinced of the value of a custom-built home. But how do you go about hiring a custom home builder? Here are some questions to consider to make the experience more satisfying.
What Should You Ask a Custom Home Builder?
How many years of experience do you have?
A good custom home builder will have many years of experience under their belt. Ask how many years he or she has been doing this work.
Are you licensed and insured?
Look for the relevant licenses that are required by your state. And insurance is important to protect against liability in case of injury or accident on the job.
What kind of warranty do I have after the home is built?
To guard against confusion and frustration later on down the line, make sure you know exactly what is and is not included in the warranty.
How do I communicate with you during the build?
Find out who will supervise the construction and how to get in touch with that person during the construction process.
How long will it take to finish building my home?
You will need to have some idea of a move-in date in order to make other plans, such as the sale of your old home or any important holidays or life events.
Can you give me any references or testimonials from past clients?
Former customers can provide a perspective of honesty about the quality of work that you can count on from the builder. The prospective custom home builder should be able to furnish some testimonials from clients.
What is your inspection process?
Get a schedule of any inspections you can expect during the building process, as well as what you can expect for a final walk-through. Find out what they will do to address any problems that come up during these inspections.
With these guidelines in mind, you're ready to find a custom home builder to undertake this exciting journey right along with you.
